I have a 4500W generator that I would like to use to power a few circuits in my home and I have a question about the best way to do this. I have a main panel on the exterior of my garage that the city power feeds. That main panel then feeds a sub-panel in my garage via a 70A circuit. The sub-panel has the circuits that I want to power. To make the installation easy, can I add an interlock kit to the main panel with a 30A circuit. I obviously can't power all the circuits in the garage, but would it at least allow me to turn on the few circuits I want? I am trying to avoid installing a transfer switch in the garage and drilling holes, etc.

What do you mean transfer switch?

I just have my generator input tied into my main breaker w/ an interlock kit. When power goes out, I plug in my generator, flip off power from city, turn off all breakers I don't want to power, flip over interlock kit and turn on the generator input breaker.

Couldn't you just do the same? But turn off all your breakers at the main panel and whatever you don't want at the sub panel?

That's what I would like to do. My question is will my new 30A circuit for the generator in the main panel feed the 70A circuit to the sub-panel? Can a 70A receive power from the 30A? I am not an electrician obviously, so I didn't know if the 70A could receive at least the 30A it was getting fed.

You should be fine - as poster above me states, just turn of everything that isn't your garage subpanel on your main panel, then turn off everything you don't want to power from the garage panel, then fire up the generator.

My house is exactly like this - main panel on side of house which powers a subpanel in the garage.

I would actually recommend AGAINST putting the interlock in the garage panel because you really shouldn't run your generator in the garage, so you're just giving yourself extra cable to buy to get the thing run to that panel from outside.

jpistolero02 said:

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That's what I would like to do. My question is will my new 30A circuit for the generator in the main panel feed the 70A circuit to the sub-panel? Can a 70A receive power from the 30A? I am not an electrician obviously, so I didn't know if the 70A could receive at least the 30A it was getting fed.

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70A is just the max amount of current that the subpanel can handle - meaning everything on the subpanel should not have more than 70A total being pulled.

Also, 30A is just the rating for the connector and/or cable you're using. It's not going to be actively carrying 30 amps at all times.

I'm not an expert, so others can chime in, but that is my understanding.

Ok, thanks for chiming in. I think this is the easiest thing to do and not have to drill a bunch of holes, etc. I am really just looking to power some lights, my tankless water heater, frig and a few plugs for phones.